No. 2 Trojans Too Much For 'Dogs
The Bulldogs narrowly missed out on upsetting USC in doubles, falling in a deciding tiebreaker.
Jan. 26, 2013
By Stephanie Juncker
sjuncker@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- The Fresno State men's tennis team played in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship match Saturday in Los Angeles after defeating Georgia Tech in a 4-3 marathon match Friday afternoon, but No. 2 USC proved to be too tough as they defeated the 'Dogs 4-0.
The Bulldogs nearly started the match off shocking the host Trojans, but USC was able to seal the doubles point in a tiebreaker on Court 1. USC took the first doubles match at No.2 as Emilio Gomez and Eric Johnson topped Sam MacNeil and Jeremy Quiroz 8-1.
For the Bulldogs, Felipe Fritz and Sai Kartik Nakireddi outlasted Michael Grant and Jonny Wang 8-6 to split the doubles matches. Senior Reid deLaubenfels and freshman Nikolas Papic played tough at the top spot taking Max de Vroome and Roberto Quiroz to a tiebreak where the Trojans pulled out the win 8-7(3) to seal the doubles point.
Since the match was being played on three courts, following doubles, singles play began with No. 1, 3 and 5 singles and then filled down the line with Nos. 2, 4 and 6 pending a decision in the match.
USC secured its second point at No. 5 with Max de Vroome's 6-1, 6-1 win over MacNeil. The Trojans took a 3-0 lead as #27 Emilio Gomez bested deLaubenfels 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1. The final point was secured at No. 3 when #24 Roberto Quiroz defeated Kartik 6-1, 6-4.
The Bulldogs will next travel back down to Los Angeles to take on No. 3 UCLA on Feb. 2 at 1 p.m.
ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship
#2 USC 4, #69 Fresno State 0
DOUBLES
(1) De Vroome/Quiroz (USC) def. DeLaubenfels/Papik (FSt) - 8-7 (3)
(2) Gomez/Johnson (USC) def. MacNeil/Quiroz (FSt) - 8-1
(3) Fritz/Kartik (FSt) def. Grant/Wang - 8-6
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1*
SINGLES
(1) #27 Emilio Gomez (USC) def. Reid deLaubenfels (FSt) - 6-2, 6-3
(2) #61 Eric Johnson (USC) vs. Jeremy Quiroz (FSt) - 5-0 susp.
(3) #24 Roberto Quiroz (USC) def. Sai Kartik (FSt) - 6-1, 6-4*
(4) #121 Jonny Wang (USC) vs. Nikolas Papic (FSt) - DNP
(5) Max de Vroome (USC) def. Sam MacNeil (FSt) - 6-1, 6-1
(6) Michael Grant (USC) vs. Felipe Fritz (FSt) - DNP
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3*
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